Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarships for Continuing students

• Yes, if you are an Australian citizen and identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and
• Have passed all subjects in the previous semester/trimester you were enrolled in; and
• Enrolled full time (minimum 18 credit points in a calendar year) in an undergraduate course in 2026 (including Diploma of Higher Education); and
• If you have not already completed a Bachelor degree.
• Did not receive a payment in 2026

• Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarship for Continuing Students: $1,300

• An offer of an Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarship for Continuing Student will be sent to your @my.jcu.edu.au email address in approximately the last week of April.

• The offer you receive in your email will provide full instructions, you must complete the Commonwealth Scholarship  Acceptance form, which also includes your bank details for payment.

• Yes if you have passed all enrolled subjects in the previous semester/trimester.

• Your scholarship offer/payment will not be made if you are not enrolled full time (minimum 18 credit points) in the current year and/or did not pass all your subjects in the previous enrolled semester/trimester.

• You will be eligible for the scholarship as long as you passed all your subjects in the previous enrolled semester/trimester/course.

• Payment will not be made to Continuing students until confirmation that you have passed all subjects in the previous enrolled semester/trimester.

• Continuing scholarship can only be paid once each year based on full-time enrolment in the current year and results in the previous enrolled semester/trimester.

If you have taken a leave of absence or are unsure if you qualify, please contact scholarships@jcu.edu.au for clarification.

• You can update your bank details at any time using this form Update Bank Details, however you must have completed the Acceptance form first for a new scholarship.

• Payments are expected to be made in approximately 4 weeks after census date of the semester you commence.
• Payments are only make on a Wednesday or Friday.
• Payments can take up to 5 days to reach your bank, depending on who you bank with.

Introduction

Commonwealth Scholarships provide commencing Indigenous students with the general costs of study. These scholarships are subject to the provisions of the Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines 2017

Nature of the Scholarship

The value of the scholarship shall be determined each year by the Selection Committee.

Eligibility Criteria

The Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarship for continuing Students shall be awarded to candidates who:

• Is an Australian citizen and identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and
• Has passed all subjects in the previous semester/trimester you were enrolled in; and
• Enrolled full-time (minimum 18 credit points in a calendar year) in an undergraduate course in 2026 (including Diploma of Higher Education); and
• Have not already completed a Bachelor's degree.
• Did not receive a payment in 2026
• Have not previously received a Commonwealth Scholarship under the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines for awards between 2012 and 2016.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Criteria for Continuing Students are:

• Passed all subjects in the previous enrolled semester/trimester; and
• Any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the candidate has, or will receive any other scholarship assistance during their studies.

Selection Process

The award of the scholarship shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Deputy-Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Education and Strategy (Chair), or nominee
• Head, Indigenous Student Services, or nominee; and
• Manager Centre Operations, or nominee; and/or
• Other members deemed appropriate, as determined by the Chair.

The Selection Committee reserves the right:

• Not to award Scholarships in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there are no candidates of sufficient merit to warrant an award;
• Deputy-Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Education and Strategy can, at their discretion, offer a scholarship to any Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student they deem worthy who has not met the above eligibility criteria.

The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the selection of the Scholarship awardee.

Payment

Monies payable to the recipient of an award shall be paid in 1 instalment.

Conditions of the Scholarship

• The recipient has not already completed a Bachelor's degree.
• If the recipient defers their enrolment, the scholarship offer will be rescinded. Where an award is terminated pursuant to the provisions of this clause, it may be awarded to another suitable candidate.
• The recipient gives permission to JCU to provide the Department of Education with their name, date of birth, address and scholarship type to enable the issuing of certificates and letters and monitoring the consumption of Commonwealth Scholarships entitlement, and disclosed by the Department of Education to the Department of Human Services to be used for administering Relocation Scholarships and/or Student Start-up Scholarships/Loans.
• The recipient may be required to inform any of the following persons of the receipt of the scholarship:
  • An employee of the Human Services Department
  • An employee of the Department administered by the Minister administering section 258 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
  • An employee of the Department administered by the Minister administering the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
• If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of these provisions or any provision relating to a particular award or with any conditions imposed under these provisions, the Selection Committee may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder.
• A student may lodge a request for review of a decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Appeals Policy.
• The requirements of the Scholarship shall not make the awarding of the Scholarship conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

Termination of a Commonwealth Scholarship

• The recipient no longer meets any of the eligibility criteria.
• The recipient has failed to meet the eligibility criteria.
• The recipient is suspended or excluded from the course of study under the provisions of the Academic Progression Policy.
• The recipient has committed serious misconduct while studying at the University.
• The recipient has provided false or misleading information at any time.

Administration of a Commonwealth Scholarship

• The scholarship shall be administered by the Scholarships Office on behalf of the Selection Committee.
• The funds of the scholarship shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the officer of the University charged with administering the scholarship.

Indigenous Education and Research Centre

Centrelink for Students

Payment Finder

ABSTUDY

Relocation Scholarship

Student Start Up Loan

ABSTUDY - Residential Costs Option

Study Assist

Living on a Student Budget

Australian Tax Office